Searchlight extension reel



Dec. 20, 1960 Filed July 29. 1957 J. L.BONANNO SEARCHLIGHT EXTENSIONREEL s sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR JOSEPH LEON/:mvo

ATTO R N EYS Dec. 20, 1960 J. L. BoNANNo SEARCHLIGHT EXTENSION REELFiled July 29, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 20, 1960 J. L. BoNANNo2,964,876

SEARCHLIGHT EXTENSION REEL Filed July 29. 1957 /2'7 INVENTOR /29 JSEPH.Bo/vmv/vo ATTORNE S United States Patent SEARCHLIGHT EXTENSION REELJoseph L. Bonanno, South Orange, NJ., assignor to The Filed July 29,1957, Ser. No. 674,733

12 Claims. (Cl. 46--226) The present invention relates to toy electrictrain apparatus and, more particularly, to a searchlight extension carhaving a removable searchlight unit energized by power derived from thetrain track.

In a toy electric car of the type to which this invention is directed, acar body carries a reel supporting member on which is rotatably mounteda reel unit. The searchlight unit is removably latched to the car bodyand is connected to a cable adapted to be wound on a reel unit, thecable deriving its power from the center rail of a track. If desired,the cable may be wound and unwound by a crank journalled on the reelsupporting member and meshing with gearing on the reel unit.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved toyelectric train searchlight extension car having a realistic appearanceand which may be conveniently assembled and inexpensively manufactured.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedsearchlight extension car including a searchlight unit removably latchedto the car body and having a novel electrical circuit for energizing thesearchlight unit.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedsearchlight extension car having a novel reel unit and reel supportingmember providing a lportion of the electrical circuit supplying power tothe removable searchlight unit.

These and other objects are attained in accordance with lthe presentinvention by an apparatus including a car body having conventionalwheelassemblies pivotally mounted on its vopposite ends, one of thewheel assemblies carrying brush means for engaging the power rail of atrack. A reel supporting member is carried by the car body and includesa pair of spaced upstanding members having aligned axle bearings. A reelunit is provided and includes a drum portion and opposing end memberssecured to either side of the drum portion and having aligned axlereceiving apertures. A pair of conductive plungers having opposing headportions vand oppositely axially directed axle portions are provided,each of the axle portions being slidably received in one of the endmember apertures and retrievably extending into one of the axlebearings. Resilient means urge the plungers in opposite axialdirections.

A searchlight unit is removably latched to -the car body. A pair ofconductors adapted to be wound on the drum portion each has one endconnected to the searchlight unit and its other end releasably coupledto one of the plungers. Other conductor means are provided to couple oneof the plungers with the brush means and the other of the plungers withthe car body to thereby complete the electrical circuit through theapparatus.

' The other conductor means may include resilient conductors eachextending upwardly through one of the up- :standing members intoengagement with its axle portion.

These and other objects and features of the invention .may be morereadily perceived from the following de- ICC tailed description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of the searchlight extension car of thepresent invention mounted on a track section and showing a search lightunit in its latched position, and in dotted lines, in its extendedposition;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 2 taken on theline 3--3 thereof looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing inparticular horizontal sections of the reel unit, the reel supportingmember and the searchlight unit, and also showing the operative positionof the reel unit crank and, in dotted lines, its storage position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of Figures 2and 3 taken on the respective lines 4 4 thereof, and showing inparticular avertical section of the reel unit and reel supporting memberand a mode of assembly thereof; i

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views of the apparatus ofFigure 4 taken on lines 5-5 and 6 6, respectively, thereof;

Figure 7 is a sectional View of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 3-taken on the line 7-7 thereof and including a side elevational view ofthe reel crank shown in its storage position;

Figure 8 is a bottom view of the base of the removable searchlight unit;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of a portion of the car body showing theportion of the searchlight unit latch means carried thereby;

light unit being separated from the car body; and

Figure 1l is a sectional view of the apparatus of Figures 8, 9 and l0taken on the respective lines 11-11 thereof looking in the directions ofthe arrows.

In Figure 1 an extension searchlight toy electric train car 20constructed in accordance with the principles of the present inventionis shown mounted on a track section 21. The track section 21 is aconventional type and includes two outer rails 22 and 23 and a centralpower rail 24. The car 20 is likewise of a conventional form and isknown as the low-slung body type.

A car body 30 having elevated end platforms 31 and 32 and a centraldepressed platform 33 is provided and is constructed of a suitableelectrically conductive but non-magnetic material. A pair of identicalbut oppositely directed wheel assemblies 35 and 36 are pivotally mountedbelow the platforms 31 and 32. The wheel assemblies 35 and 36 are of aconventional four-wheel type and each has a coupler 37 attached to itsouter end,

the couplers preferably being a remote control magnetic knuckle typewell known in the art.

As can be best seen in Figure l0, wherein a portion of platform 32 isshown, the pivotal mounting for wheel assembly 36 is provided by aheaded stud 38 fixed to it and which is pivotally received on a mountingplate 39. The plate 39 is fixed to the underside of the platform by athreaded fastener 40 at one end and is held in engagement with theplatform at the other end by a laterally extending band 41. The wheelassembly 35 is similarly pivotally mounted. The mounting plates 39,studs 38 and wheel assemblies 35 and 36 are constructed of a materialhaving the same electrical characteristics as car body 30.

A searchlight unit 45 is removably latched to the platform 32 andderives its power from the track section 21 by an electrical circuit tobe described hereafter. As is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, whenremoved from the car body it may be used for various night operations.The searchlight unit is connected to a cable 46 adapted to be wound on areel unit 47. The reel unit is rotatably mounted on a reel supportingmember 48 fixed to the central car body section 33. Secured to the endplatform 31 is a simulated power plant and generator 49.

Power to energize the searchlight unit 45 is derived from theV centerrail 24.l To this end, turning to Figure 2, the wheel assembly 35supports a conventional collector brush assembly 52 having a roller 53yieldingly urged into engagement with the rail 24. The brush assembly 52has fixed to it an insulated flexible conductor 53 which couples thebrush assembly with a resilient conductor 54 extending from the reelsupporting member 48 in a manner to be hereafter described.

The reel supporting member 48, referring to Figures 2-4, 6 and 7,comprises essentially a pair of laterally spaced upstanding postmembers56 and 56' which are appropriately braced and connected together tofacilitate assembly on the central platform 33. The post 56 and itsbracing `are identical to the post 56 and its bracing but are laterallyoppositely directed; therefore the description will proceed with regardto post 56 only, corresponding opposing elements being indicated byprimed numbers. Post 56 is fixed at its lower end centrally of andperpendicular to a longitudinally extending base bar 60. A pair ofoppositely sloping braces 61 and 62 extend from either end of the basebar 60 to the upper end of the post 56. The base bars 60 and 60' arerigidly connected by a pair of laterally extending spacer members 63 and64 to support the posts 5'6 and 56 in parallelism and in lateralalignment.

The post 56 at its upper end is rectangular and is provided with an axlereceiving bearing 67. A rectangular recess 68 extends upwardly from thehorizontal diameter of the bearing 67 and inwardly to about themid-point of the post. Below the upper rectangular end the post 56 hasan approximately square tubular configuration, the tube having an outerwall 70 and an opposite inner slotted wall 71. The square-shaped bore 72of the tube extends upwardly into the axle bearing 67 for a purpose tobe explained. The upwardly extending slot 73 in the inner wall 71terminates short of the bearing 67.

Received within the inner bore 72 is the resilient conductor 54previously mentioned. The conductor 54 is made of a strip of resilientconductive material such as copper and is formed with two loops toprovide a central portion 76 which engages the outer tube wall 70. Adownwardly and outwardly struck out projection 77 in the central portion76 engages the bottom flat edge of an aperture 78 in the outer wall 70.Above and below the central portion the conductor 54 loops inwardly toengage the inner wall 71 at its edges. The terminal portion 80 of theupper loop extends laterally outwardly and is arranged relative to theprojection 77 to normally extend upwardly into the axle bearing 67. Thelower end portion of the conductor 64 extends downwardly through a slotin an insulating sheet 82. The corresponding conductor 54', on the otherhand, has its lower end -bent inwardly for effectively grounding it onthe car body. Of course, the reel supporting member 48 is constructed ofa suitable insulating material such as a plastic.

To facilitate the assembly of the reel supporting member 48 on thecentral platform 33, the spacer bars 63 and 64 are each provided ontheir lower surfaces with a projection 83 adapted to extend into anaperture 84 in the platform. The platform 33 also has an opening 86through which the lower end of the conductor 54 is adapted to pass. Whenassembling, the projections 83 and conductor 54 are located asindicated, the post 56 Testing on the insulating sheet 82 and the post56' resting 'on the inwardly turned end of conductor 54. A pair 'ofgrooved fasteners 88 are then force fitted into aligned 75 apertures inthe spacer bars and platform 33 to secure the reel supporting member 48firmly in place.

The reel unit 47, see Figures 2-5, includes an outer cylindrical drumand an inner concentric sleeve 91. A pair of opposing flanged endmembers 92 and 93 are secured to either side of the drum. The endmembers 92 and 93 are provided with axially extending axle receiv ingsleeves 94 and 95, respectively. For convenience of assembly, the drum90 and sleeve 91 are divided along slightly axially displacedcircumferential paths dening respective mating joints 96 and 97. To jointhe two mating reel unit parts together, two diametrically aligned rods98 and 99 extend between the opposing end members 92 and 93 and arediscontinued at an appropriate point near to the member 92 in theembodiment disclosed. Suitable screw fasteners 102 extend through theend member 92 into the rods 98 and 99.

To provide an axle for the reel unit 47 a pair of identical butoppositely directed plungers 105 and 105 are provided for retrievablyextending into the reel supporting member axle bearings 67 and 67'.rl'he plunger 105 has a head portion 106 within the sleeve 91 and anoutwardly directed axle portion 107 slidably received within the endmember axle sleeve 95. As will subsequently be more clear, the plungersform part of the electrical circuit for energizing the searchlight unitand is consequently made of a suitable electrically conductive material.The plungers conveniently are made of brass tubing having an end peenedout to form the head portion, the rim of the head portion beingpreferably curved toward the axle portion.

The opposing plungers 105 and 105 are urged in opposite axial directionsby a compression spring 110 which is received within the sleeve 91. Thespring 110 as illustrated is in contact with head portion 106 but isinsulated from head portion 1076 by an insulator disc 111. Of course, ifa spring made of a non-conductive material is used, the insulator 111can be dispensed with. The movement of the spring 110 and plunger heads106 and 106' are guided in axial paths by the sleeve 91.

The searchlight cable 46, which includes a power lead 46 and a currentreturn lead 46, is releasably coupled to the plungers 105 and 105. Tothis end, the drum 90 and sleeve 91 each have aligned apertures 115 and116 at one side extremity adapted to receive the power lead 46', theapertures being directed toward the inner surface of sleeve 91. Similarapertures 115 and 116 at the other side extremity of drum 90 and sleeve91 are adapted to receive the current return lead 46". As shown inFigure 5, a pair of parallel slender guide members 118 and 119 extendperpendicular to end member 92 between the drum and sleeve for guidinglead 46" as it is inserted through the apertures 115 and 116'. Window-openings 121 and 122 enable the assembler to observe the passage of thelead. End member is equipped with similar guide members and windows. Ofcourse, the reel unit mating parts are made of a suitable insulatingmaterial such as a plastic.

4In vassembling the reel unit 47 to the reel supporting member, see Fig.4, the reel unit is mounted on the reel supporting member by snappingthe axle portions 107 and 107 into the axle bearings 67 and 67. Theupper terminal portions of the resilient conductors 54 and 54' normallyextend into the respective bearings 67 and 67'. Since downward movementof these conductors is limited by the respective projections 77 and 77',good electrical contact with the axle portions when assembled isassured.

To assemble the cable 46 to the reel supporting member 47, use is madeof an appropriately pointed tool such as the bevelle'd rod 124illustrated. To assemble the lead 46", for example, the plunger axle 105is retracted inwardly using'the tool 124, andthe lead is insertedthrough the apertures 115 and 116. When in place extending into the boreof the sleeve 91, the tool 124 is backed out until the plunger headportion 106' clamps the end of ase-Lev the lead against the end member92. Wire 46' is simi-V larly clamped between plunger head portion 106and end member'93. r

The cable 46 may be wound and unwound onto the dru'rn 90 manually, butit is preferable to use the gearing and crank to be described (refer toFigs. 2, 3 and 7). Fixed to the outer surface of the end member 92 is arin'g gear 126. A pinion for meshing with the gear 126 is provided on acrank 127. The crank 127 includes a shaft 128 having a pinion gear 129fixed to its outer extremity. A crank handle 130 is fixed to the otherend of the shaft at right angles thereto and carries a handle 131 to begrasped bythe user for rotating the pinion gear. v

. In its operative position, the crank shaft 127 is received within alaterally extending sleeve bearing 132 fixed between the reel supportingmember brace 61 and base bar 60. A storage position is also provided forthe crank 127. For this purpose, the central platform 33 has an opening135 and a sleeve 136 extending downwardly from its periphery forreceiving the crank shaft.

The removable searchlight unit 45 (s ee Figs. 10 and 3), includes a basemember 140 made of a non-conductive and non-magnetic material. The basemember 140 is formed with a raised circular bearing portion 141 having acentral bore therethrough for receiving a conductive sleeve 142. Awasher 143 having a lead securing projection is received between thebase member and the peened over end of the sleeve 142. The currentreturn lead 46" is connected to the washer projection. At the upper endof the sleeve 142, a fiat bearing plate 146 rests on the upper circularface of the bearing portion 141 extending outwardly therefrom. The lowerinwardly directed flange of a bayonet-type lamp socket 147 rests on theplate 146 and is held to it securely by the outwardly directed flange ofthe other end of sleeve 142. An insulating disc 148 rides within socket147 and is urged upwardly by a spring 149. The disc 148 carries acontact button 150 to which the power lead 46' is connected. A miniaturebayonet-base lamp 153 has projections for engaging a bayonet slot in thesocket 147 in a well known manner. As is evident, the circuit betweenleads 46 and 46" is completed when the lamp contact button engages thebase contact button 150.

A reflector housing 155 for the lamp 153 is rotatably mounted on thebasebearing portion 141 by means of a bracket 156. The bracket 156 includesa journal portion 157 rotatably mounted between the plate 146 and anopposing horizontal shoulder formed on the base portion 141. Twoopposing spring arms 160 and 161 extend upwardly and outwardly fromjournal portion 146 and are arranged to pivotally and releasably receivealigned projections 164 and 165 on reflector housing 155. The reflectorhousing briefly provides a mounting for a reector 168 frictionallyreceived within it and also for a lens 169. The housing 155 is arrangedto pivot on a horizontal axis through the projections 164 and 165, thuspermitting up and down sweeping of the housing as well as rotation aboutbase bearing portion 141.

A magnetic latch is carried by the searchlight unit 45 and the platform32 for removably mounting the searchlight unit on the car body. As seenin Figs. 8 and l0, a permanent type bar magnet 175 is appropriatelyfixed to the base 140 of the searchlight unit. As illustrated, themagnet 175 has tapered sides and is received Within an oppositelytapered recess provided by a magnet housing 176 carried by the lowersurface of the base 140.

Since the car body is made of a non-magnetic material, the platform 32has mounted on it a latch part of a suitable magnetic material forcoacting with the permanent magnet 175. The platform 32 has a flatshallow recess 180 (see Figs. 9 and l1), and slots 181 and 182 extendthrough the car body at either end of the recess. A plate 183 ofmagnetic material is received within the recess 180 with its oppositeends extending downwardly through the slots 181 and 182, the ends being.bent back against the car body. A'stop 185 fixed to the platform 32,best seen in Fig. 9, aligns the magnet 175 and the plate 183 when thesearchlight unit is in its latched position on the car body.

In operation, the searchlight unit 45 is energized Whenever power flowsin the track section 21 on which the car 20 rests. Normally thesearchlight unit is in its latched position on platform 32 engaging thestop 185, the bar magnet 175 being magnetically coupled to the carv bodymagnet attraction plate 183. Of course, the cable 46 is preferably woundon the drum 90.

As is apparent from the previous description, an electrical circuit iscompleted through the car 20 from the brush assembly 52 engaging thepower rail 24 to the wheel assemblies 35 and 36 engaging the outer rails22 and 23. From the brush assembly 52, current flows through theinsulated conductor 53 to the resilient conductor 54 extending throughthe post 56. Thereafter the current passes through the plunger to thepower lead 46 of cable 46 and thence to the searchlight unit basecontact button 150. The current return path is through the lamp socketsleeve 147, sleevev 142 and washer 143 to the current return cable lead46". At the reel unit end of lead 46, current then flows through theplunger 105 to the resilient conductor 54 which is effectively groundedat its lowerV end on the platform 33. The return path is thus completedthrough the car body 30 to the wheel assemblies 35 and 36 which havecontact with the outer rails 22 and 23.

If desired, the refiector housing 155 of the searchlight unit 45 may berotated and pivoted as previously described while the searchlight unitis latched on the carl body, thereby directing the beam from lamp 153 invarious directions. To move the searchlight unit to its extendedposition away from the car 20, the cable 46 is preferably first unwoundfrom the reel unit 47. To accomplish this, the crank 127 is removed fromits storage position within the sleeve 136 on platform 33 and isinserted into the bearing sleeve 132 on the reel supporting member 48with the pinion gear 129 on the crank meshing with the ring gear 126 onthe reel unit. The crank handle 131 is turned manually, rotating thereel unit 47 about its axle 107 and 107 and consequently unwinding thecable. The searchlight unit is then unlatcrhed by grasping the base orreflector housing and lifting, thereby uncoupling the base permanentmagnet 175 and the magnet attraction plate 183. In its extended positionaway from the car 20, the reflector housing may be rotated and pivotedas before to direct the beam inl various directions for night-timeoperations. The searchlight unit 45 is then returned to its latchedposition, the cable 46 rewound on the drum 90, and the crank 127returned to its storage position.

It is seen that the searchlight extension car 20 is real isticv inappearance and use while being capable of being manufacturedinexpensively and conveniently. The plungers 105 and 105 serve the dualfunction of providing an axle for the reel unit and of forming a part ofthe electrical circuit for'energizing the searchlight unit. Furthermore,by releasably clamping the cable leads 46 and 46 between theirrespective plunger heads and adjacent end members, ease of assembly isachieved. This mode of assembly is especially advantageous when it isconsidered that the user may recouple the leads with a minimum oftrouble if the cable is inadvertently pulled off the reel unit. The toyelectric train car 20 according to the present invention is consequentlyalso rugged and serviceable.

It is understood that a preferred embodiment only ofV the invention hasbeen described and illustrated, and that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the principlesof the inventionft All such changes and modifications and equivalentsthereof are therefore intended to be included within the scope oftheinvention as defined in the following claims.

I claim: n Y 1 In toy electric train apparatus, a at car body, wheelassemblies mounted on the opposite ends of said car body, one of saidwheel assemblies carrying brush means for engaging the power rail of atrack, reel supporting mflns carried by said car body and including apair of spaced upstanding members having aligned axle bearings, a reelunit including a drum portion, opposing end members secured to eitherside of said drum portion and having aligned axle receiving apertures, apair of conductive plungers having opposing head portions havingoppositely directed axle portions each slidably received in one of saidapertures and retrievably extending into one of said axle bearings,resilient means urging said plungers in opposite axial directions, asearchlight unit, latch means removably mounting said searchlight uniton said car body, conductor means adapted to be wound on said drumportion connected to said searchlight unit and releasably coupled toeach of said plungers, and other conductor means for coupling said brushmeans and one of said plungers `and for coupling the other of saidplungers and said car body to thereby complete an electrical circuitthrough the apparatus.

2. In toy electric train apparatus, a flat car body, wheel assembliesmounted on the opposite ends of said car body, one of said wheelassemblies carrying brush means for engaging the power rail of a track,reel supporting means carried by said car body and including anupstanding member having an axle bearing, a reel unit including a drumportion, opposing end members secured to either side of said drumportion, one of said end members having an axle receiving aperture, anelectrically conductive plunger having an inwardly directed head portionand having an axle portion slidably received in said end member apertureand retrievably extending into said axle bearing, resilient means forurging said plunger axially outwardly, means for rotatably mounting theother of said end members, a searchlight unit, latch means removablymounting said searchlight unit on said car body, a conductor adapted ltobe wound on said drum portion connected at one end to said searchlightunit and releasably clamped at its other end between said plunger headportion and its' adjacent end member, conductor means for coupling saidplunger axle portion and said brush means, and othercurrent returnconductor means for coupling said searchlight unit and said car body tothereby complete an electrical circuit through the apparatus.

3. In toy electric train apparatus, a nonmagnetic Hat car body, wheelassemblies mounted on the opposite ends of said car body, one of saidwheel assemblies carrying brush means for engaging the power rail of atrack, reel supporting means carried by said car body and including apair of spaced upstanding members having aligned axle bearings. a reelunit infludino a drum portion, opposing end members secured to eitherside of said drum portion and having aligned axle receiving apertures, apair of conductive plungers having opposing head portions and havingoppositely directed axle portions each slidably received in one of saidend member apertures and retrievably extending into one of said axlebearings, resilient means urging said plungers in opposite axialdirections, a searchlight unit, magnetic latch means removably mountingsaid searchlight unit on said car body, a pair of conductors adapted tobe wound on said drum portion each connected at one end to saidsearchlight unit and releasably clamped at its other end between one ofsaid plunger head portions and its adjacent end member, conductor meansfor coupling one of said plunger axle portions with said brush means,and other conductor means coupling the other of said plunger axleportions with said car body to thereby complete an electrical circuitthrough the apparatus.

v4. In toy electric train apparatus, a car body, wheel assembliesmounted .on said flat car body. one of said wheel assemblies carryingbrush means for engaging the power rail of a track, reel supportingmeans carried by said car body and including a pair of spaced upstandingmembers having aligned axle bearings, a reel unit including acylindrical drum and an inner concentric sleeve, opposing end memberssecured to either side of said drum and sleeve and having aligned axlereceiving apertures, a pair of opposing conductive plungers havingopposing head portions each received within said sleeve and havingoppositely di,- rected axle portions each slidably received in one ofsaid end member apertures and retrievably extending into one of saidaxle bearings, resilient means received within said sleeve for urgingsaid plungers in opposite axial directions, a searchlight unit, latchmeans lremovably mounting said searchlight unit on said car body, a pairof conductors adapted to be wound on said drum and each having one endconnected to said searchlight unit and its other end releasably coupledto one of said plungers, and other conductor means for coupling one ofsaid plunger axle portions and said brush means and for coupling theother of said plunger axle portions and said car body to therebycomplete an electrical circuit through the apparatus.

5. In toy electric train apparatus, a lat car body, wheel assembliesmounted on said car body, one of said wheel assemblies carrying brushmeans for engaging the power rail of a track, reel supporting meanscarried by said car b ody and including a pair of spaced upstandingmembers having aligned axle bearings, a reel unit including acylindrical drum and an inner concentric sleeve, opposing end memberssecured to either side of said drum and sleeve and having aligned axlereceiving apertures, a pair of conductive plungers having opposing headportions each received within said sleeve and having oppositely directedaxle portions each slidably received in one of said end member aperturesand retrievably exe tending into one of said axle bearings, resilientmeans received within said sleeve for urging said plungers in oppositeaxial directions, a searchlight unit, latch means removably mountingsaid searchlight unit on said car body, a pair of conductors adapted tobe wound on said drum and each having one end connected to saidsearchlight unit and its other end extending through said drum andsleeve and releasably clamped between one of said plunger head portionsand its adjacent end member, conductor means for coupling one of saidplunger axle portions with said brush means, and other conductor meansfor coupling the other of said plunger head portions and said car bodyto thereby complete an electrical circuit through the apparatus. A

6. In toy electric train apparatus, a non-magnetic car body, wheelassemblies mounted on the Opposite ends of said car body, one of thewheel assemblies carrying brush means for engaging the power rail of atrack, reel supporting means carried by said car body and including anupstanding member having a laterally extending axle bear-ing and havinga longitudinally extending opening in communication with said axlebearing, a reel unit including a drum portion. opposing .ende

members secured to either side of said drum portion, one of said endmembers having an axle receiving aperture, an electrically conductiveplunger having an inwardly directed head portion and having an axiallyextending axle portion slidably received in said end member aperture andretrievably extending into said axle bearing, resilient means for urgingsaid plunger axially outwardly, means for rotatably mounting the otherof said end members, a searchlight unit, magnetic latch means removablymounting said searchlight unit on said car body, a conductor adapted tobe wound on said drum portion and having one end connected to saidsearchlight unit and its other end passing through said drum portion andreleasably clamped between said plunger head portion and its adjacentend member, a resilient conductor supported within said `upstandingmember opening and having one end yieldingly engaging said plunger axleportion, conductor means coupling said.

resilient conductor and said brush means, and other current returnconductor means coupling said searchlight unit and said car body tocomplete an electrical circuit through the apparatus.

7. In toy electric train apparatus, a non-magnetic car body, wheelassemblies pivotally mounted on the opposite ends of said car body, oneof said wheel assemblies carrying brush means for engaging the powerrail of a track, reel supporting means carried by said car body andincluding a pair of spaced upstanding members having laterally extendingaligned axle bearings and each having a longitudinally extending openingin communication with its axle bearing, a reel unit including a drumportion, opposing end members secured to either side of said drumportion andhaving aligned axle receiving apertures, a pair ofelectrically conductive plungers having opposing head portions andhaving oppositely directed axle portions each slidably received in oneof said end member apertures and retrievably extending into one of saidaxle bearings, resilient means for urging said plungers in oppositeaxial directions, a searchlight unit, magnetic latch means removablymounting said searchlight unit on said car body, a pair of conductorsadapted to be wound on said drum portion, each connected at one end tosaid searchlight unit and releasably clamped at its other end betweenone of said plunger head portions and its adjacent end member, a rstresilient conductor supported within one of said upstanding memberopenings and having one end yieldingly engaging its respective plungeraxle portion and having its other end portion insulated from said carbody and passing Kthrough an opening therein, conductor means couplingsaid first resilient conductor and said brush means to complete a powercarrying circuit portion, a second resilient conductor supported withinthe other of said upstanding member openings and having one endyieldingly engag- -ing its respective plunger axle portion and havingits other end grounded on said car body, thereby completing a currentreturn circuit portion.

8. A toy vehicle comprising a body having a platform portion, car wheelsrotatably mounted on said body to permit movement of the vehicle, socketmeans including spaced vertical support members secured to said platformportion having contact bearing portions, power means in said bodyconnected to said contact bearing portions, a removable reel supportedon said socket means, said reel having power transferring axlessupported on said bearing portions, a power line adapted to be woundaround said reel, one end of said power line being connected to saidpower transferring axles, and a portable power consuming unit connectedto the other end of said power line.

9.v In a combination with a toy railroad car having a wheeled body and abrush to pick up electrical power from the tracks, the improvementcomprising socket means including spaced vertical support memberssecured to said body electrically connected to the brush and havingcontact bearing portions, a removable reel supported on said socketmeans said reel having electrical contact axles supported on saidbearing portions, a removable electric cable adapted to be stored onsaid reel and having an end electrically connected to said reel, and aremovable electric power consuming unit attached to the other end ofsaid electric line to close the electric circuit and operate said unit.

10. In combination with a toy railroad car having a at car body mountedabove wheels which move over a track and an electric current supplied tosaid car, the improvement comprising a pair of spaced supports extendingupwardly from said liat car body including axle receiving bearings, aresilient conductor for each of said supports, said conductors havinglower portions connected to the electric current supply and upperportions extendlng into said axle receiving bearings, a removable reel,said reel having outwardly biased axles supported in said axle receivingbearings, said axles being electrically insulated from each other andcontacting said conductors, a pair of wires one end of each extendinginto said reel and being electrically clamped by said biased axles, anda searchlight attached to the other of said ends.

11. In a combination with a toy railroad car having a at car bodymounted above wheels which move over a track and having means to collectelectric current from said track, the improvement comprising a pair ofspaced supports extending upwardly from said body having axle receivingbearings, conductors supported within said supports and connected to theelectric current, a reel supported from said supports, said reelincluding an inner casing portion and outer spool portion concentrictherewith, a pair of plungers supported within said inner casing, aspring within said casing outwardly biasing said plungers, said plungersextending into said axle receiving bearings and contacting saidconductors, a pair of leads extending through said outer spool andclamped by said plungers, a searchlight attached to the other end ofsaid leads.

12. In a combination with a toy railroad car having a at car bodymounted above wheels which move over a track and having means to collectelectric current from said track, the improvement comprising a pair ofsupports extending upwardly from said body having axle receivingbearings, conductors supported within said supports and connected to theelectric current, a reel supported from said supports, said reelincluding an inner casing portion and outer spool portion concentrictherewith, a pair of plungers supported within said inner casing, aspring within said casing outwardly biasing said plungers, said plungersextending into said axle receiving bearings and contacting saidconductors, a pair of leads extending through said outer spool andclamped by said plungers, a searchlight attached to the other end ofsaid leads, said portable searchlight including a base, magnetic meanson said base and the body for removably mounting the searchlight on thebody, said base having a raise bearing portion, a searchlight housingrotatably supported from said bearing portion and a lamp mounted in saidhousing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,175,063 Koechlin Mar. 14, 1916 1,316,431 Dixon Sept. 16, 19191,464,168 Booth et al Aug. 7, 1923 1,659,160 Richards Feb. 14, 19281,932,143 Piercy Oct. 24, 1933 2,106,698 Bonanno Feb. l, 1938 2,574,905Bonanno Nov. 13, 1951

